Chris Hemsworth's top 3 experiences on Hayman Island

Chris Hemsworth's Hayman Island is diving the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef, picnicking on the alabaster sands of Whitehaven Beach and spending quality time with his family at the One&Only Hayman Island resort.

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Chris Hemsworth's Top 3 experiences on Hayman Island

Chris Hemsworth's Hayman Island is diving the crystal clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef, picnicking on the alabaster sands of Whitehaven Beach and spending quality time with his family at the One&Only Hayman Island resort.

Hayman Island, the most northerly of the Whitsunday Islands, lies in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Queensland. Its private luxury resort, One&Only Hayman Island is an idyll of luxury and one of the most awarded in Australia.

Using One&Only Hayman Island resort as a base, you can explore the surrounding islands on a private sailing tour, dive and snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, spend time on the white sands of Whitehaven Beach or get an aerial view of the islands and the reef via helicopter or seaplane.

Chris Hemsworth recently spent time exploring Hayman Island as part of his trip around Australia. His top three experiences distil the essence of his trip and highlight both the adventure and relaxation that Hayman Island has to offer.

1. Diving the Great Barrier Reef

"On the Great Barrier Reef, I went scuba diving for the first time which was amazing. There is more sea life and vibrant colours of the coral than I’ve ever seen. It’s like visiting another planet. Flying over the reef and seeing the changing blues and greens was also incredible. Such intense colours and contrast to the white sand of the beaches." - Chris Hemsworth

You can swim, snorkel, dive and sail the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef, which stretches for more than 2,000 kilometres (1242 miles) along the Queensland coastline. There are a wide range of dive sites along the Great Barrier Reef from the calm, protected, shallow spots around the islands, perfect for first-timers, to the deeper sites on the outer reefs.

There are so many ways you can experience the reef – from immersing yourself in a deep dive experience to sailing atop the water. Given its location in the Whitsunday Archipelago, One&Only Hayman Island has the reef at its doorstep and offers an array of experiences from snorkel lessons to private boat tours of the inner and outer reefs complete with scuba diving.

For other reef experiences, in the Whitsundays you'll find Bait Reef which is well protected, making it a great site for snorkelers and beginner divers. Blue Pearl Bay, which is known for its coral and fish life including a resident Maori Wrasse, and caves and canyons, located on Hook Reef. Hook Reef is a 60 metre (196 foot) wall with a 20 metre (65 foot) shelf of beautiful coral gardens.

If you want to extend past this area of the reef, head to Lady Elliot Island or Lady Musgrave Island – this is the closest you’ll ever get to a guaranteed sighting of majestic Manta Ray and during winter, these gentle giants congregate in the hundreds.

2. Exploring Whitehaven Beach

"We spent an afternoon at Whitehaven Beach which was absolutely stunning. The most pristine white sand, crystal clean water. The perfect spot to just unwind surrounded by the reef. The next day we took the kids for a picnic and a bit of beach cricket on Langford Island, just off Hayman Island. The kids loved running along the sand and playing in the shallows." - Chris Hemsworth

A seven kilometre (4.5 mile) stretch of white silica sand, Whitehaven Beach is a must-see destination in the Whitsundays. The sand on Whitehaven Beach is among the whitest anywhere on earth - composed of 98 per cent silica, the sand doesn't retain heat and has a fine, powder-like consistency.

At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is Hill Inlet. Here, you can look out over an inland river system that flows across broad white sands and to distant peaks on the horizon.

Visiting Whitehaven Beach requires a boat ride or a short flight in a helicopter or seaplane. One&Only Hayman Island offer a tour of Whitehaven, travelling via helicopter and touring Heart Reef and Hill Inlet, before landing on the beach for a gourmet picnic.

If you're coming from Hamilton Island, Air Whitsunday helicopter tours take in the surrounding Whitsunday Islands and fly the length of Whitehaven Beach before setting down for a swim or walk along the sand. Or tour by by sea-plane, and fly over the Molle group of islands and Whitsunday Island and enjoy two-and-a-half hours of swimming and lazing on the sand.

If you prefer to travel by sea and experience more than just the beach, take an Explore Sail & Snorkel full-day tour to Whitehaven Beach. Departing from Hamilton Island, you'll set sail on a catamaran and spend your day cruising around the Whitsundays. You'll get to explore Whitehaven beach and snorkel Chalkies beach which is home to diverse marine life, including turtles.

3. Staying at One&Only Hayman Island

"We stayed at One&Only Hayman Island, which was a real highlight. Amazing food and wine, overlooking the reef, plus they have an awesome kids club. Face painting, fish feeding, jewelry making, and some great swimming pools for us to chill out as a family." - Chris Hemsworth

One&Only Hayman Island is a private sanctuary at the northernmost point of the Whitsunday Archipelago, on the doorstep of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. An idyll of verdant cliffs, crescent-shaped white beach and celestial-blue sea, the resort offers four different types of accommodation with incredible views of the natural surrounds. Swim from your suite terrace into the infinity pool or stay in sophisticated rooms overlooking the Coral Sea or lush gardens and lily lagoon. Retreat to your secluded beachside villa with private pool, or experience the bespoke luxury of a penthouse with a personal butler and uninterrupted ocean vistas.

If you want to use the resort as a base to explore, try one of the resort's tailored excursions, either by seaplane, helicopter or private charter. You can play golf, tennis and squash, as well as take one of the exclusive bushwalks and hikes.

Experience the ultimate in relaxation at the resort spa where indulgent treatments are among the most luxurious you'll experience in Australia. One to note is the Ocean Dreaming Massage, performed while your bed floats on the sea, surrounded by tropical fish.

The exceptional restaurants and bars of One&Only Hayman Island serve up the freshest local flavours across an international array of cuisines. The resort has five restaurants for you to try: Pacific, which true to its name, offers panoramic views of the Whitsundays dotting the horizon of the Pacific Ocean. Amici for Italian cuisine, Bamboo for Asian inspired food in an outdoor bamboo garden, and lastly, Aquazure which offers a family-friendly menu with breath-taking views of the Coral Sea Sea and On The Rocks which offers seasonal and simple fresh fare against the backdrop of the iconic Hayman Pool.

More to see and do near Hayman Island

The 2,300-kilometre Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. Home to diverse marine life of the most vivid colours, experiencing the Reef is a life-changing adventure, whether you do it in luxury or on a budget. See the Reef by scuba, snorkel, glass-bottom boat, jet ski, semi-submersible, sail boat, from the air or even skydive to completely immerse yourself in this wonder of the world.

The Whitsunday Islands is a group of 74 islands bordered by the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the sheltered waters of the Coral Sea. With palm-fringed secluded white sand beaches surrounded by clear blue waters, the Whitsunday Islands are the epitome of a tropical paradise.

The currents and trade winds bring creatures from all over the world to the Great Barrier Reef, including whales and dolphins for the warm tropical waters. They all prosper in the reef’s unique ecosystem.

Australia is fringed by more than 8,000 islands, offering every type of holiday experience. Sail through the Whitsundays, 4WD to Fraser Island's rainforests and lakes or pick a tropical paradise in the Great Barrier Reef. Uncover the unique culture of the Torres Strait or Tiwi Islands. Explore the wildlife havens of Kangaroo Island in South Australia or French and Phillip Island in Victoria. Day trip to gorgeous Rottnest Island from Perth or cruise the remote, spectacular Buccaneer Archipelago, off the coast of Derby. Island hop around Sydney Harbour or fly to Lord Howe Island, home to the world's southernmost coral reef. Discover the wild beauty of the islands off Tasmania, itself Australia's biggest island.

Mission Beach is a relaxed beachfront town, located mid-way between Cairns and Townsville on the Queensland coast. Overlooking the cobalt waters of the Coral Sea, Mission Beach has more than 14 kilometres of magnificent golden sandy beaches. Here two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and Wet Tropics Rainforest form a natural environment like nowhere else on earth. Mission Beach is a gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and a perfect base for visiting nearby Dunk, Bedarra and Hinchinbrook islands. At Mission Beach, you can find either extreme adventure or an indulgent tropical escape.

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